I recently returned from a wonderful in-person meet-up with my mastermind group, which is comprised of Jonathan Milligan, Dennis McIntee, Rebecca Livermore, Dale Callahan, Jackie Ulmer, Fokke Kooistra, and Michael Nichols. I am beyond grateful to be in a group with these people!
We were together one full day and two nights. During the day we each put ourselves in the “hot seat,” meaning each of us had time to ask for feedback about some element of what we are doing creatively or entrepreneurially.
I used my hot seat to deliver the presentation I plan to give at ReWrite (you should come!) because I knew this group would help me make it the best it can be. Their feedback was too good not to share!
Following are 10 things I learned from my mastermind group about public speaking:
- Make an emotional connection with your audience. Oftentimes an audience will not remember exactly what you said, but they will remember how you made them feel. Do this by telling a great story or being vulnerable.
- Be vulnerable. Don’t act like you have it all together when you’re on stage. Talk with the audience like you would a friend.
- Application, application, application. Don’t just tell stories and teach points. Help your audience apply the content you’re delivering. Give them some practical tips.
- Help the audience go deeper with something they can take home. Whether it’s something you sell at the back of the room or something you give away or both, go the extra mile by creating a piece of content that audience members can take home with them.
- Repeat your main point. Keep coming back to the main point so that people see how all the different pieces fit under the main point. My main point for this talk is this: The path to our art is through, not around, our weakness.
- Drop the bridge statements. While I was delivering my presentation I kept saying things like “My second point is…” or “In closing…” They told me to drop all those statements because they’re distracting. Get right into it, they said. Just deliver your content.
- Tell a story, then make a point. Don’t get these reversed.
- Include some interaction after each point. After making a particular point, open things up with some interaction. Ask people to raise their hand if they [fill in the blank]. Invite them to ask a question or share something they’re doing that’s related to your content. The point is to get them out of “sit and listen” mode to engage with what you’re saying.
- Remember the impact you could have. The spouse of one of our mastermind members asked a question that reminded me of how important public presentations are. We all have heard presentations that helped us in vital ways. Some speeches have literally changed the world. When you stop and remember that your talk could help save a person’s physical or mental or creative life, that realization tends to keep you focused and helps you deliver your content with more energy and gusto.
- This isn’t about you as the public speaker. It’s about the people listening. It’s about serving them the best way you know how.
Question: Which of these points do you appreciate the most and why? You can leave a comment by clicking here.
photo credit: Van Jones Speaking at the at the Save the American Dream Rally in Washington DC February 26 2011 via photopin (license)
#10! So often I’m so focused on my nervousness or perfect delivery when I need to be focused on serving the listener. So good!
I forwarded your “10 things” to a friend who gave 2 talks over the weekend and is giving another one at the end of the month. Here is her comment:
“this is great! Thank you so much.”
Thanks Chad, perfect timing for my live local book launch tomorrow.
I intend to be vulnerable with my visual play with knotted string.
Its all about story-telling rather than impartially lecturing.
I’ll be thinking about how I release them rather than myself tomorrow and what they can take away!
Chad, this is so timely. The task on my desk today and next week is to prepare a workshop presentation that will help participants make their own workshops more effective. I’m going to take your list here to my planning. 🙂 Thank you.
#9. Wow: “When you stop and remember that your talk could help save a person’s physical or mental or creative life…” So sobering and yet so empowering. Thanks!
Excellent post Chad! I use similar points when teaching homiletics to a few or a group. For me, #1 (connection) is essential, and I think it’s too often overlooked by a lot of speakers. As a pastor, even when traveling/visiting other churches or groups, I look for what I call the “most common denominator” among the people. My goal, that is, my responsibility, is to make connection with them above all.
That’s my favorite, but all these points are great.
Thanks!
Having just spoken to a group of colleagues today, #10 resonates with me–“It’s about the people listening.” If this part isn’t working, none of the rest really matters!
Great advice. Saw you put these into practice at the Breathe Conference. You do a great making an emotional connection, being authentic. Speakers that have this quality really help the information stick for me.
Thanks, Lisa. So glad I got to meet you and Amy that day!
#9 grabs me the most today: remembering the impact I can have. “We all have heard presentations that helped us in vital ways. Some speeches have literally changed the world. When you stop and remember that your talk could help save a person’s physical or mental or creative life, that realization tends to keep you focused and helps you deliver your content with more energy and gusto.” Powerful words. Powerful insight. Powerful motivation. Thanks for all the points, but especially today for this one.
Well summarized Chad and it was great meeting and working with you! You summed this up so well and I took notes!
EXPECT Success!
Jackie Ulmer
Thanks, Jackie, for your indispensable input! This talk is going to be so much better for it.
Chad, thank you to you and your team for a list that goes beyond the normal advice for being a good public speaker. I am not a naturally comfortable public speaker but want to learn as much as I can from others who do it well so this was great for me.
The point I liked best of the bunch was #8: to give the audience something to interact with for each point. I know when I’m in the audience, I appreciate that because it draws me to the speaker and his or her message. I like that that is something intentional I can do for those who listen to me speak.
Chad: I speak to a lot of women’s groups, and they love the emotional connection you mentioned. I’m getting ready for a TV interview next week, so printed out this valuable list. Thank you!
I appreciate you serving us and helping us grow,
Jen
You’re welcome, Jeanette, and good luck in the interview!
Excellent points. Totally agree, especially with #1
Wonderful list, Chad. Thank you for sharing it.
#7 is a great challenge. So tempting, but so much less effective, to make points didactically and then try to illustrate with a story.
My personal addendum to #7 is “and make sure that the point you make is the SAME point the story embodied.” It is surprisingly common to find speakers thinking that they just need any old story, especially if it is a joke, to get the juices flowing. The power of the RIGHT story is to take people intuitively into the content that you are then going to flesh out.
Um, maybe I should print these out and slip it into our pastor’s mailbox ;). All joking aside, I really like number 8 (maybe that’s why preachers came to mind). As an educator, I know how vital this is to teaching and helping students take home the message.
Hear hear, and amen! I think I’m going to make a habit of reminding myself of #8 just before going on stage when I speak.
#9 is my favorite. I speak about “using your voice to make a difference”. It shifts the way people think about all communication. The takeaway (#4) is also key. I learned that the hard way! The ability to speak in front of crowd, with humility and vulnerability, is a gift, a special honor. These are great tips and good luck with your presentation at ReWrite!
I just spoke last week to a group of ladies and then ended my presentation by doing a dramatic reading that I had written. I had SO many people come up to me at the end to ask if I had that piece published in a book so they could buy it or if I had a printed copy that they could get hold of. I had a book table with all kinds of my other books for sale but this particular story was in none of them. What was I thinking? Idea #4! Great article. Thanks for the tips.
Wow, that must have felt great to have people requesting that piece. But I also understand your frustration!
Very helpful, Chad. I’m doing a lot more public speaking these days and I see that in those talks where I’ve incorporated several of your points, the response has been very encouraging. You’ve listed a few I hadn’t thought of using, though (raise your hand, have a hard-copy take-away), so I’m excited to put them into play.
The point that has me thinking is the one about dropping bridge statements. I know I struggle with wanting to give all the info and fill in gaps and this can make what I write or say wordy and longer than necessary. Thanks for the great tips!
Allison, me too! But I’m learning it’s probably better to just let the silence be, pause, and move on. That is hard to do!